What's this about slippers?" Stephanie's mom said, walking in.<br />"Dad's just saying he could never lead the resistance against a robot army because he wears slippers."<br />"This is very true," her mum said.<br />"Then it's decided," Stephanie's father said. "When the robot army makes itself known, I will be one of the first traitors to sell out the human race."<br />"Wow," said Stephanie.<br />"Now that's an about-turn," said her mum.<br />"It's the only way," said her dad. "I have to make sure my family survives. The two of you and that other one, the small one--"<br />"Alice."<br />"That's her. You're all that matter to me. You're all I care about. I will betray the human race so that the robot army spares you. And then later, I will betray you so that the robot army spares me. It's a dangerous ploy, but someone has to be willing to take the big risks, and I'll be damned if I'm about to let anyone else gamble with my family's future."<br />"You're so brave," Stephanie's mum said.<br />"I know," said her dad, and then quieter, "I know.